Airless cosmetics dispenser
A product dispenser is provided that includes a container within a shell, and a pump and insert for dispensing the product. A spring biases the container and pump away from the tip of the shell. The bottom of the container is pushed up relative to the shell to activate the pump, thereby dispensing the product.
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The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/309,029, filed Mar. 16, 2016, titled AIRLESS CRAYON, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDThe present application relates to the field of product dispensers. Particularly, the present application relates to cosmetics dispensers with an internal airless mechanism for dispensing the product.
BACKGROUNDCrayon, pencil, stick, brush, and doe foot type devices exist for applying cosmetics or medicinal products. Such devices may consist of a tubular shell for holding the product, a mechanism for dispensing the product, a shaped tip, and an optional cap. In the cosmetics and personal care industries, crayon, stick, and doe foot type applicators are used to apply lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, skin creams, lotions, foundation, concealer, eye shadow, and other cosmetic products to portions of the body. Brush type applicators are used to apply mascara, gel and other products to eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. In addition, various stick type applicators such as pencils, crayons, and chubby crayons exist. These implements typically consist of a tubular body with an applicator tip. Gel, paste, and cream products may be provided in the applicator. A mechanism is provided to move product from a reservoir to the tip for application. If air is allowed into the reservoir, the composition of the product may be changed and bacteria may be introduced, potentially resulting in degradation of the product. If no mechanism is provided to expel all of the product, product may be wasted. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved crayon, stick, brush, and doe foot type application devices.
SUMMARYIn an illustrative example, a product dispenser is provided comprising a container having a closed bottom and an open top, a shell disposed at least partially over the container, the shell having an open bottom with an extension, and an opening in a top end, the shell configured to receive the container therein with the container bottom being substantially flush with the shell extension in a rest position, a pump mechanism disposed with the open top of the container, an insert disposed within an upper portion of the shell, the insert having a snap connection with one or both of the shell and the container, and a spring disposed between the pump mechanism and the insert, biasing the closed bottom of the container flush with the shell extension.
In an example, the snap connection may be between the insert and the shell, the snap connection including a projection on the insert that engages an extension on an inner surface of the shell.
In a further example, the insert may have a second snap connection with the container.
In a further example, the second snap connection may include a lip on the insert that engages a protrusion on an inner surface of the container.
In another example, a bottom end of the spring may engage the container and an upper end of the spring engages the insert.
In a further example, the product dispenser comprises a tip disposed within the opening at the top end.
In another example, the insert may have a channel extending longitudinally therethrough, allowing product to travel from the pump mechanism to the tip.
In a further example, the tip may have an opening that is fluidly connected to a passageway extending through the pump mechanism and insert to the container.
In another example, the tip may include a conical application surface with an apex, wherein the opening is in the apex.
In another example, the tip may include a doe foot applicator.
In another example, the tip may include a brush.
In a further example, the brush may include a plurality of openings fluidly connected to the passageway.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
In the following descriptions of the figures, the terms proximal, upper, or top may be used in reference to the portion of elements nearest the top of the page as they are shown in the drawings and the terms distal, lower, or bottom may be used in reference to the portion of elements nearest the bottom of the page as they are shown in the drawings.
The product dispenser illustrated in
In the example shown in
A cap 105 may be provided over the tip 130, as illustrated in
An airless pump mechanism 140 is contained within the dispenser. The term airless pump refers to a pump that provides dispensing of a substance from a container under pressure in essentially a single direction without permitting reverse (intake) flow of air via the pump. That is, as product is pumped from the container, the pumped product is not replaced with a corresponding volume of air through the pump. In addition to preventing reverse intake flow of air, an airless pump typically does not allow intake of any other substances to replace the volume of product pumped out of the container. For example, an airless pump could include a one-way valve, such as a check valve.
The airless pump mechanism 140 is disposed on the first end of the container 110, as illustrated in
The airless pump mechanism 140 allows for an adjustable amount of product to be dispensed, depending on how far the container 110 is pressed upwards with respect to the shell 120, or how many times the container 110 is pressed upwards. Disposing the pump mechanism within the shell keeps the moving parts protected. To dispense product, the container is push upwards relative to the shell to compress the spring apparatus and activate the pump, causing product to be expelled through the opening 135 in the tip 130 via the airless pump mechanism 140 coupled to the first end of the product container.
The airless pump mechanism 140 operates using a one-way valve to allow product to be expelled from the container, but prevents air from entering and contaminating the product container. Other pump mechanisms may be used in place of the airless pump mechanism. The airless pump can expel product simply through an open ended channel or tube terminating at the tip of the shell.
A further example of an airless cosmetic dispenser 1000 is shown in
A further example of an airless cosmetic dispenser 2000 is shown in
Another example of an airless cosmetic dispenser 3000 is shown in
While the pump mechanisms 140, 1140, 2140, 3140 may be described as having different components, it will be understood that any of the pump mechanisms may be used with any of the various tips 130, 1130, 2130, 3130. Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples. The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Claims
1. A product dispenser comprising:
- a container having a closed bottom and an open top;
- a shell disposed at least partially over the container, the shell having an open bottom with an extension, and an opening in a top end, the shell configured to receive the container therein with the container bottom being substantially flush with the shell extension in a rest position;
- an airless pump mechanism disposed with the open top of the container;
- an insert disposed within an upper portion of the shell, the insert having a snap connection with one or both of the shell and the container;
- a spring disposed between the airless pump mechanism and the insert, biasing the closed bottom of the container flush with the shell extension; and
- wherein a bottom end of the spring engages the container and an upper end of the spring engages the insert.
2. The product dispenser of claim 1, wherein the snap connection is between the insert and the shell, the snap connection including a projection on the insert that engages an extension on an inner surface of the shell.
3. The product dispenser of claim 2, wherein the insert has a second snap connection with the container.
4. The product dispenser of claim 3, wherein the second snap connection includes a lip on the insert that engages a protrusion on an inner surface of the container.
5. The product dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a tip disposed within the opening at the top end.
6. The product dispenser of claim 5, wherein the insert has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough, allowing product to travel from the pump mechanism to the tip.
7. The product dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a removable cap disposed over the top end of the shell.
8. The product dispenser of claim 5, wherein the tip has an opening that is fluidly connected to a passageway extending through the pump mechanism and insert to the container.
9. The product dispenser of claim 8, wherein the tip includes a conical application surface with an apex, wherein the opening is in the apex.
10. The product dispenser of claim 8, wherein the tip includes a doe foot applicator.
11. The product dispenser of claim 8, wherein the tip includes a brush.
12. The product dispenser of claim 11, wherein the brush includes a plurality of openings fluidly connected to the passageway.
13. A product dispenser comprising:
- a container having a closed bottom and an open top;
- a shell disposed at least partially over the container, the shell having an open bottom with an extension, and an opening in a top end, the shell configured to receive the container therein with the container bottom being substantially flush with the shell extension in a rest position;
- an airless pump mechanism disposed with the open top of the container;
- an insert disposed within an upper portion of the shell, the insert having a snap connection with one or both of the shell and the container;
- a spring disposed between the airless pump mechanism and the insert, biasing the closed bottom of the container flush with the shell extension;
- wherein a bottom end of the spring engages the container and an upper end of the spring engages the insert; and
- wherein the snap connection is between the insert and the shell, the snap connection including a projection on the insert that engages an extension on an inner surface of the shell.
14. The product dispenser of claim 13, wherein the insert has a second snap connection with the container.
15. The product dispenser of claim 14, wherein the second snap connection includes a lip on the insert that engages a protrusion on an inner surface of the container.
16. The product dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a tip disposed within the opening at the top end.
17. The product dispenser of claim 16, wherein the insert has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough, allowing product to travel from the pump mechanism to the tip.
18. The product dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a removable cap disposed over the top end of the shell.
19. The product dispenser of claim 16, wherein the tip has an opening that is fluidly connected to a passageway extending through the pump mechanism and insert to the container.
20. The product dispenser of claim 19, wherein the tip includes a conical application surface with an apex, wherein the opening is in the apex.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 9, 2017
Date of Patent: Feb 19, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20170265624
Assignee: HCT GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED (Hong Kong)
Inventors: Jeremy Wilson (Los Angeles, CA), Armando Villarreal (Los Angeles, CA), Denis Maurin (Los Angeles, CA)
Primary Examiner: Jennifer C Chiang
Application Number: 15/454,713
International Classification: B43K 5/02 (20060101); A45D 40/26 (20060101); A45D 40/00 (20060101); B05B 11/00 (20060101); A46B 11/00 (20060101); A45D 34/04 (20060101);